This article was co-authored by Paul Chernyak, LPC. Paul Chernyak is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Chicago. He graduated from the American School of Professional Psychology in 2011.

There are 23 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

The human mind has incredible abilities, but sometimes, we can get stuck in a certain way of thinking or acting. To grow your mind, start thinking about the world in a new way. Become a life-long learner, and embrace trying new experiences. Throughout it all, support a healthy brain with active lifestyle practices.

Steps

Method1

Establishing a New Mindset

1

Practice mindfulness to become aware of the world around you. Mindfulness is the practice of becoming more in tune with your surroundings. It involves engaging every sense, feeling, and sensation around you. Mindfulness can improve your memory and strengthen your brain power.[1]

Try mindfulness meditation. Sit somewhere quiet for 5 minutes and close your eyes. Focus on every sensation that you feel, such as the noise of the air conditioner or the feeling of your seat beneath you. Capture even the most minor of details.

When you eat, chew slowly. Savor every taste, texture, and sensation of the food you are consuming.

If you’re out in public, take a few minutes just to notice every detail. Look at the leaves on the ground, the decorations on a building, or the movement of people around you.

At work or school, try doing some grounding techniques. Take a minute to notice everything that you feel, such as the chair beneath you or the desk under your hands.

2

Think positively about the world. When faced with problems or obstacles, keep an optimistic mindset. Positive thoughts, like love, creativity, and joy, keep your mind in a peaceful state. Negative thoughts like fear, jealousy, hate, and anger, can cause feelings of sadness, distress, or anxiety.[2]

If you typically think negatively about things, you may not want to jump straight to positive thinking. Instead, start with neutral thoughts and work your way up to positivity.

Talk to yourself in the mirror every morning to pump yourself up for the day. You might say something like “It’s another great day” or “I am going to rock it today.”

Motivational quotes, posters, mugs, or other reminders can help you stay in the right frame of mind as you go through your day. Leave a friendly note in your wallet or post a positive quote above your desk.

Identify your biases. Biases can cause us to think that certain things are always true, even when they’re not. If you know your biases, then you can work to overcome them. Pay attention to your thoughts, feelings and actions. Ask yourself why you think that way, and challenge your assumptions.[3]

For example, our biases may cause us to take more responsibility for our successes than our failures. For example, we may blame a teacher when we fail a paper but praise ourselves when we get an A.

A confirmation bias is one where you only consider information that supports your preconceptions. For example, you might ignore facts that don't support your political ideology.

Sometimes, we judge a decision based on its outcome rather than the soundness of the decision. Just because you win a lottery doesn't mean that buying a lottery ticket was a smart decision.

People tend to think themselves as less biased than other people. It means that by default we remain blind to our own cognitive biases.

4

Listen to your intuition. Intuition is that little inner voice that helps you identify good and bad decisions. Don’t ignore your inner voice. Listen to it, and try to analyze what it could mean. When making a decision, consider your intuition as well as your reasoning.[4]

You don’t have to blindly follow your intuition, but you should use it when considering certain decisions. For example, if you’re buying a new house, you might get a better “vibe” or “feeling” about 1 place. Ask yourself what is giving you that feeling. You may realise there is a reason why you feel that way.

5

Remember that you can change. Your mind is a flexible tool. While it might feel rigid or set in its ways, with the right motivation, it can expand and grow. Try to remind yourself that you can create new practices, break old habits, and make a change for the better.[5]

It can take around 66 days to form a new habit or to break an old one. Keep working on your new mindset. After a while, it will become second nature.

6

Understand your working memory. Working memory is that sheet of your brain memory which holds and processes small chunks of information at given moment. For example, when you are reading this line, you are using your working memory to understand and make sense of the sentence. Here you can notice that you are reading sentences one by one and sometimes stop to reread a passage when something is unclear. From here we can deduce that our working memory is processing information in small chunks. If you try to read faster than you are capable, you overload your working memory and may require more focus.

Most of you have noticed that when you are given a number of instructions by your teachers or parents, you may not be able to grasp them all at once, causing your to ask for the instructions to be repeated. You can only process a limited amount of information at a given moment or time. The amount of this limited information can vary from person to person, however, understanding the limitation of your working memory can avoid you from getting overwhelmed.

If you are starting any important task first start with some focus techniques. Start with small steps remembering one by one what task you need to do and take some time to recall. At this time start calmly and don't make hurry. Once your working memory is charged enough to fetch information or connecting with other parts of your brain then you can notice a speed in your work and thinking, but in start you need to try to focus.

Sort the items in your desk or room, it will prevent you from getting distracted.

Give yourself ample time in taking important decisions of life.

Method2

Learning and Growing

1

Read books, stories and news every day. Reading is one of the best ways to become more informed, empathetic, and aware. Read everything you come across. Get a book to read before bed. Skim through the news in the morning. Try a poem or short story if you don’t have much time.[6]

Both fiction and non-fiction are beneficial. While non-fiction can teach you information about the world, fiction can improve your empathy, imagination, and brain connectivity.[7]

2

Write to boost your memory and problem-solving skills. Writing is a very effective tool for mental growth. It can help you process your day, analyze problems, and flex your creativity. Keep a daily journal to track your life or try your hand at writing fiction. If faced with a problem, write it out to see if it helps you come up with a solution.[8]

A gratitude journal is a great way to write every day and support your mind’s growth. Write down 1 thing every day that you are thankful for. This will make you feel more positive and confident.

If you want to share your thoughts, start a blog. Others can respond to your posts and help you think about issues in new ways.

3

Ask questions when faced with something new. Asking questions helps you challenge the world around you while teaching you new facts and details. When faced with something new, ask questions about it. If someone nearby can’t answer it, look up the answer yourself.[9]

Question yourself as well as others. What do you do the things that you do? Why do you believe certain things or why do you enjoy others?

Try writing a list of 50 questions. Perhaps there is something you’ve always wanted to know. Maybe you want to question yourself. Look around the room and ask how certain objects work or think about how they were made. Afterwards, try answering these questions.

4

Do puzzles and brainteasers to exercise your mind. The brain needs exercise like any other part of the body. Brain exercises can involve playing Tetris, Sudoku, crossword puzzles, math problems, or other puzzle games. These can test your critical thinking, memory, and problem solving skills.[10]

Download a puzzle or brain training app on your phone. You might use this app for 15 minutes a day to sharpen your reasoning skills.

Mix up what games and puzzles you play. If you do Sudoku every day, you might get good at Sudoku, but you might not learn how to do other types of puzzles or problems.

5

Perform simple scientific experiments in your own home. To help you think like a scientist, try doing some simple home experiments to test the world around you. This can help increase your curiosity, reasoning skills, and scientific knowledge.

Stick with experiments that can be done with household objects. Avoid doing anything that involves dangerous or flammable chemicals.

Method3

Trying New Experiences

1

Step outside of your comfort zone. If you only try things that are familiar and comfortable, it will be hard for you to expand your mind. While trying new things can sometimes be uncomfortable, in the end, you will usually benefit from it.[11]

Think about something that you’ve never tried before but would be interested in learning. For example, perhaps you’ve always wanted to go SCUBA diving or maybe you want to take a helicopter ride.

Everyone has some kind of fear. You might hate speaking in public or dread heights. Unless you have a severe phobia, try to identify your fears and confront them. For example, speak up at a town hall or go to a rock climbing gym. If your fears are so strong that they interfere with daily life, talk to a mental health professional for help.

2

Learn a new skill. Learning new skills keeps your brain sharp as you get older. It can also expand your experience to new things. Consider something that you’ve always wanted to learn. See if there is a local class, or look up videos online to teach you how to do it.[12]

Some great creative lessons include learning to paint, do pottery, make jewelry, or sew.

More physical activities you might try include swing dancing, playing on a sports team, or doing yoga.

Think about any skills that might help you in your daily life. Take a cooking class, learn to be handy around your house, or read up on how to perform your own car maintenance.

3

Meet new people and groups. Social networks are extremely important in helping us grow as people. New people bring new experiences, ideas, and beliefs that can challenge and expand our own way of thinking.[13]

Join a club or society that centers around your interests. For example, join a board game club, an environmental society, or a knitting group.

Try to encounter people with different beliefs, cultural practices, and lifestyles. You might go to a cultural festival, a religious celebration, or a parade.

Consider joining a sports team. This will require you to work on a team with other people.

4

Travel to new places. Travel can expose you to new people, cultures, places, and ways of thinking. Plan trips that will take you somewhere interesting and new. You can travel to a different city, state, or country.[14]

Try to identify what types of things you might be interested in doing. This can help you find the right trip. For example, if you want to see animals and nature, visit a national park. If you're interested in history, find a city with museums, historical buildings, or monuments.

For a big trip, try visiting a major city, like New York, London, or Tokyo. You may need to save up money for the trip, but it can be an experience that will broaden your horizons.

5

Volunteer to help others in need. Helping others provides benefits to your community and to your own personal growth. You may encounter new people with a different perspective on life, and you will learn ways to solve problems for the benefit of society. Volunteering can improve empathy, social skills, and thinking.[15]

Look for a charity or organization in your local area that could use volunteers. Choose an issue that is important to you.

You can also volunteer at schools, town events, animal shelters, or community centers.

Method4

Supporting a Healthy Mind

1

Keep yourself occupied and productive throughout the day. Boredom does more than just sap your energy. It can also dull your mind. Try to be engaged in different activities throughout the day. When you have time to yourself, choose an activity that uses your brain, such as reading, doing a puzzle, socializing, or crafting.[16]

You can, of course, take breaks to relax. For example, there is nothing wrong with watching TV for an hour a night. Just avoid binging for several hours in a row.

Try to mix up your activities so that you don’t get bored. For example, give yourself an hour to play a game, then go for a walk. Afterwards, cook dinner from scratch, and read a book after your meal.

2

Exercise. Exercise can improve your mood, hone your awareness, and help you think through problems. Aim to do vigorous exercise, such as running or weight lifting, at least 2-3 times a week. On other days, do at least 30 minutes of less intensive activities like walking, swimming, or bike riding.[17]

Consider getting a pedometer and aim for 10,000 steps a day. This can help you keep track of how much you are moving.

Avoid sitting all day. Get up for 5 minutes every hour to take a short walk, do some stretches, or quickly do jumping jacks. This can wake up your mind and provide a quick boost of energy.

If you’re struggling with a problem or obstacle, movement can help you think through it. Go on a run, bike ride, or jog.

Look for foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, walnuts, seaweed, winter squash, and broccoli. These are important for supporting your cognitive health.

Other foods that may help your brain power include blueberries, avocados, nuts, and kale. Drinks like coffee and tea may also provide cognitive benefits.[19]

4

Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.Sleep is absolutely essential if you want your mind to operate and develop at its best. If you don’t get enough sleep, your memory, mood, cognitive thinking, and reasoning skills will suffer.[20]

Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time every day. This will give your brain a schedule and make it easier to get to sleep at night.

Avoid using bright screens, like phones and computers, for an hour before you go to bed. This can help you go to sleep faster and improve your quality of sleep.

5

Meditate to boost your mindfulness. Find somewhere quiet and comfortable to sit for 5 minutes. Concentrate on slow and deep breaths. Don’t think about anything else. If your mind starts to wander, redirect it back to your breath.[21]

Meditation can help you relax, cope with stress, find new perspective, and strengthen your self-awareness.[22]

Try downloading an app that offers guided meditation, such as Headspace, Insight Timer, or Calm.

6

Engage in healthy social relationships. Relationships can help us confront new ideas, learn new subjects, and embrace different ways of living. Foster your relationships with loved ones and friends. Arrange dinner parties, activities, or meetings to bring new people together.[23]

Start a discussion with others about your beliefs, ideas, thoughts, and practices. You might be surprised by what the other person has to offer. They might help you consider things in a new light.

Keep an open mind as you talk with others. You don't have to agree with their ideas or beliefs, but you can learn a lot just by listening to them.

If you want to build confidence and positive thinking in your life, then you must take charge of your life. Take your big decisions yourself and don't be afraid of making mistakes. This will build about strong trust within you and that is the whole source of confidence and positivity in life.

You need not control your unwanted feelings, but develop stronger opposite feelings. It is something like if you want to remove the darkness, then you don't fight with darkness but light a bulb and darkness goes away. Give your mind time ,so that it can relax and at that time you can change your bad feelings to good and positive feelings.

When I'm about to deal with people or have a conversation, I usually prepare my brain for it, thinking about what to say and how to answer. But when I'm on the spot, my mind goes blank. What do I do?

wikiHow Contributor

Community Answer

You have a fear of having a conversation and being judged. This fear is shutting down your cognitive faculties. Confidence is key if you want to solve this problem. Remind yourself that the person you're talking to is just a person, like you. And most people are kind and non-judgmental. No one is going to laugh at you if you make a mistake or say the wrong thing (mostly no one, anyway). Fake it til you make it. If you pretend to be confident, you'll feel confident.

Tips

Start with small steps. Sometimes your big goal seems daunting and intimidating. At those times, try to take small and easy steps. They'll help strengthen your morale and confidence to tackle bigger steps in the future.

Warnings

You don’t need drugs to expand your mind. By learning and experiencing new things, you’ll find yourself with more permanent benefits than using psychoactive drugs.

"This has been a tremendous amount of good, positive, uplifting, and motivating inspiration! Tools for bettering our relationship with ourselves and others around us has been such an amazing understanding. Thank you! "..." more

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Kenneth Kader

Oct 23, 2016

"The article gives some good advice on helping one be better at using the powers that the mind has. It's not a perfect plan or set of rules, but is a good starting point. "..." more

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Leo ADRES

Dec 5, 2016

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Yash Meena

Nov 26, 2017

"I would thank to those people that wrote the article, I know that all the article is useful for me."